Girl, Transcending

This book has given me a deeper understanding of what my transgender friends may or may not be going through as well as helped me to understand my sexual identity and who I am as a person.
This book follows AJ and her journey of discovering her own gender identity throughout her years and also contains a lot of facts about transgender people, this provides us with an understanding of what transgender people go through as well as AJ and what she has become.
There is a trigger warning of self-harm for less than two pages of the book. This occurs in a discussion of what AJ went through surrounding her anxiety.

I loved how the book was written; it felt very personal, as if aj and i were having a private conversation. it covered very important topics that everyone must be aware of am glad to say I'm a little more educated on the subject now.

I've been following AJ on TikTok for just over a year now and was excited to hear about the release of her book. I will admit, being a fan of hers, I might have some bias in this review. But this was a personal, thought-out and well-written glimpse into AJ's life. She carefully weaves personal experiences with education and tips on how to be a better ally, or a better person. The entire theme of the book is hopeful and optimistic, her voice really shines from the first page to the last. I appreciate her honesty in recounting some of the more painful memories - especially the story about losing a childhood friendship, which I'm sure a lot of readers will resonate with. I also commend her for including relevant trigger warnings before certain chapters. It reads like a friend telling you their life story, comforting and warm. All in all, a book that I think will leave a lasting impression, as a cisgender woman I feel more educated having read this. Thank you AJ, for sharing your story.

I've always admired AJ ever since discovering her on TikTok, she is a beautiful soul and this also exuded throughout the book. AJ takes us through her journey of discovering herself and battling the hateful and spiteful people that can come with transitioning and being yourself. She provides educational tips throughout that will hopefully encourage more people to become allies, or already being an ally myself, she has helped me discover how I can be an even better one. Girl, Transcending felt like I was having a conversation with my best friend, I felt comfortable, I felt informed, I felt anger and disappointment hearing about the painful experiences - it was an overwhelming rollercoaster and I come out from reading this now wanting to give AJ the biggest hug I can and tell her all the ways I'm so proud of her. I now have a deeper understanding of how I can support the transgender community in every way possible and believe this book will carry it's way through many hearts.

This is a memoir about the life of young Australian TikTok star AJ Clementine. Being a TikTok and Instagram creator, AJ Clementine is known for supporting and advocating for the LGBTQI+ community, her sense of humor and her princess fashion content. It's simply fantastic to follow her on these platforms. AJ is passionate about sharing her own transgender experiences and assisting the next generation in being confident and empowered in their journey.
This book captures explores her life growing up as a mixed race and trans youth, combined with self-images and with people she adores.

The design of this book is perfect for readers who love colorful, eye-appealing visual designs. The narrative is comprehensible and reassuring, yet the struggles Clementine has experienced throughout her life are not overlooked. This is a fantastic book for teens, whether they want to feel seen, loved and understood, or just want to learn and connect with others.

Many thanks to the publisher, Murdoch Books, for the ARC received via NetGalley.
This was suggested to me under the Self-help category, whereas I felt it was more of a memoir, especially the initial chapters about AJ's childhood ("Once Upon A Time"). However, the later chapters about dating, relationships and dealing with life's curveballs had more to offer in terms of self-help/advice (even to a cis-woman a generation older than AJ i.e. me!).
This memoir vs self-help book is understandable and AJ was really careful to emphasise that there is no "one-size-fits-all" trans experience. Reading AJ's experience was a delight as she has such an uplifting point-of-view and her default to see things in a positive light is infectious. But, as AJ says herself, she hasn't sugar-coated things. She's very real and matter-of-fact about what she's been through and the difficulties trans people encounter globally. There's plenty here to chew on for those who wish to be allies for trans and gender-diverse people.

I loved the glossy-mag aesthetic for the book (which I read on my phone on the NetGalley app - understandably not available on Kindle, which would kill the vibe, IMO!) and it seems very on-brand. I hadn't heard of AJ prior to seeing this book on NetGalley and now I just so excited for her future success in her career and happiness in her relationships.
Publication date: 8 February 2022